Deputy Minister Kenny Morolong: Star FM Studio equipment handover
Programme Director,
Leadership of the MDDA and Star FM, Representatives of local government, Community stakeholders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to join you today as we celebrate the official handover of Star FM's upgraded broadcasting facilities.
This investment reflects government's continued commitment to strengthening community media as an essential pillar of our democracy and ensuring that every community has access to reliable, diverse and locally relevant sources of information.
While we celebrate the completion of these upgraded facilities, what we are truly investing in is the continued strength of community broadcasting.
We are reinforcing a platform that promotes dialogue, strengthens democratic participation and ensures that the voices of local communities continue to shape the conversations that matter most.
This occasion is particularly significant as we gather during Women's Month, when South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March against pass laws.
The courage of the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings remains one of the defining moments in our democratic journey.
Their call for justice, dignity and equality continues to inspire our efforts to build a society where every voice is heard and every citizen has the opportunity to participate fully in public life.
Situated here in Klerksdorp, Star FM has become an important platform for the communities of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District and surrounding areas.
The station was established with a clear purpose: to amplify local voices, encourage active citizenship and ensure that communities have access to information that speaks directly to their lived realities.
By creating space for dialogue between communities, government, civil society and other stakeholders, Star FM has demonstrated the unique value of community broadcasting.
It provides residents with an opportunity not only to raise the issues affecting their daily lives, but also to become active participants in finding practical solutions to local challenges.
The diversity of the North West Province is one of its greatest strengths, and Star FM reflects this diversity through multilingual programming in Setswana, Sesotho, isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans.
By embracing the many languages spoken across the district, the station promotes inclusion, preserves cultural identity and ensures that information remains accessible to all sections of the community.
Community media has an essential role to play in carrying forward the legacy of the women of 1956.
Stations such as Star FM provide platforms where the voices of women are amplified, where issues such as gender-based violence, economic empowerment, health, education and leadership can be discussed openly.
Where women are recognised not only as subjects of public debate but as leaders, experts, entrepreneurs and agents of change within their communities.
In doing so, community broadcasters give practical expression to the constitutional values of equality, dignity and freedom that those women fought so courageously to secure.
Community radio also plays a particularly important role in districts such as Dr Kenneth Kaunda, where communities continue to pursue inclusive economic growth while confronting challenges such as unemployment, youth development, service delivery and social inequality.
In this context, community broadcasters become trusted partners in development by providing credible information, promoting accountability and creating space for constructive dialogue that contributes to stronger, more resilient and more inclusive communities.
As we continue to commemorate the Milestones of Freedom, we are reminded that freedom is measured not only by our right to vote, but also by our ability to participate meaningfully in public life.
Access to information, freedom of expression and platforms that allow communities to engage with one another remain fundamental to the continued success of our constitutional democracy.
Community media has been one of the great success stories of democratic South Africa.
Over the past three decades, community broadcasters have extended the reach of constitutional rights into every corner of our country, ensuring that rural, township
and peri-urban communities are able to access information in their own languages and participate in decisions that affect their lives.
This is why government continues to prioritise support for community media through institutions such as the Media Development and Diversity Agency.
The investment made by the MDDA in Star FM's broadcasting infrastructure is an investment in sustainability.
It strengthens the station's ability to produce quality programming, embrace new technologies and continue serving its communities well into the future.
As South Africa prepares for the upcoming local government elections, this investment becomes even more significant.
Community radio stations will once again play a vital role in providing voter education, facilitating informed public debate and ensuring that citizens have access to accurate, credible and balanced information.
At a time when misinformation can spread rapidly across digital platforms, trusted community broadcasters remain indispensable in protecting the integrity of our democracy.
However, sustaining community media requires more than government funding alone.
It requires sound governance, responsible leadership, active community participation and strong partnerships with municipalities, business, civil society organisations and the private sector.
These partnerships help strengthen community broadcasters as institutions that contribute not only to communication, but also to local economic development, skills development, social cohesion and nation-building.
As we honour the legacy of the women who marched in 1956, let us recognise that the work of advancing equality did not end on that historic day.
It continues every day in classrooms, workplaces, homes, public institutions and through community
broadcasters such as Star FM, which create spaces for dialogue, challenge inequality, promote accountability and ensure that the voices of women continue to shape South Africa's democratic future.
To the Board, management, staff and volunteers of Star FM, I encourage you to continue safeguarding this investment through good governance, accountability and a continued commitment to serving your listeners with professionalism and integrity.
To the communities of Klerksdorp, the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District and surrounding areas, I encourage you to continue supporting your station.
Community radio belongs to the communities it serves, and its success depend on your participation, your stories and your continued ownership.
Allow me to congratulate everyone who has contributed to Star FM's growth and success.
May these upgraded facilities strengthen your ability to continue informing, educating and empowering communities, while giving expression to the values of our Constitution and contributing to a more inclusive, informed and participatory South Africa.
I thank you.
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